Dan's Papers - June 22, 2007 - Loaves & Fishes Cooking School

Last week I participated as a student at the Loaves & Fishes Cooking School with a few colleagues of mine from Dan's Papers and, immediately, I felt as though I were in a villa north of Paris, France, cooking, learning and eating with some of the world's leading food experts. The classes, which are held in the elegant and historic Bridgehampton Inn, offer a variety of cuisines and the instructors represent a broad range of both well-known local and celebrity chefs. There are a maximum of 8 students per class and this intimate ratio allows the student the individual attention needed to gain critical techniques as well as learn a thing or two about how to truly enjoy cooking.

I will not lie - I am no chef. In fact, I find it very hard to cook anything above the skill level needed for a bowl of Orzo and tomato sauce. Yet as I entered the beautiful, stocked and clean kitchen of the Loaves & Fishes Cooking School, I was reassured that I would be just fine. I met Orian Weinbrecht, Cooking School Director, Lia Fallon, Chef, and Karl McDermott, private chef, whose information can be found at www.chefkarl.com. First we looked over the recipes and talked briefly about our adventure to the "Greek Islands," as the menu called for Feta Stuffed Triangles, Greek Salad, Lamb and Chick Pea Stew, Roasted Beets and Almond Cakes. It was time to gear up. We stood behind our stations in our Loaves & Fishes aprons and learned the correct way to hold a knife. Chef Karl explained, "The knife is your friend. It can do a lot of things for you." I learned how to move the knife, tucking my pointer finger behind the heel and using the curve of the knife to cut through the carrot.

After this we started the Almond Cake since this would take one hour to bake. Karl moved around the kitchen with fierce confidence and grace, something only a chef whose acclaim includes working for Jerry Seinfeld and Hillary Clinton could possess. He explained that "baking is more of a science, you must be exact," as he showed us the proper way to fold the orange zest into the almond mixture and what a "stiff peak" really looked like.

The entire class then participated in cutting and chopping the rest of the ingredients needed for the stew. The hands-on knowledge is truly an inspiring experience. I took note of how the smells of the nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and the browning of the lamb meat blended into one wonderful dish, while Karl, Orian and Lia stood by full of information and step-by-step analysis. The instructors made the experience almost whimsical, and I found myself thinking of how nice it would be to take this knowledge home to share with my family.

We continued cutting the beets and testing our technical skills, folding the ever-so-delicate phyllo dough around the feta mix and into triangles. What a delicious challenge this was. We finished by making the Greek Salad, and watched as Karl explained how to make the dressing with the perfect ratio of red wine vinegar and EVOO (extra virgin olive oil, with thanks to Rachel Ray). After working up a sweat in the kitchen, we finally sat down to eat our masterpiece. The stew meat was tender, the salad was refreshing and the feta stuffed triangles were sweet and flakey. Heading on to the almond cake, I was astounded by the texture and each fragrant bite was a dream. The "Greek Islands" food was certainly an Odyssey into taste - an expression of the vibrant, resilient culture from which it has been incorporated over the centuries.

Not only is the Loves & Fishes Cooking School for adults, but this year there is also a Loaves & Fishes Cooking Camp for kids and teens. Each kid and teen will receive an apron, t-shirt, and a framed picture with the chef and graduation certificate. What a great way to spend the summer! The kids can even enjoy the Herb Garden, sponsored by Marders Garden Center, and whether they're in pots, gardens, or at local farm stands, students will learn how to utilize these fragrant pleasures to their fullest.

Also, the Cooking School will feature a Winery or Wine Store of the Month (for July it's Comtesse Therese). If that's not an enticing enough deal then you won't forget this - for a limited time only, students that register online receive 10% off classes! To register for classes go to www.landfcookshop.com. Becoming a student again has never been this fun. The Loaves & Fishes Cooking School is great way to learn some new recipes from the experts, bond with a few close friends or even meet some new ones. Sign up now, this Cooking School is sure to fire up some hot, Hampton nights.